The Cure – Bestival Live 2011

There are several excellent live documents of The Cure, from the classic 1988 film The Cure In Orange to the more recent reissue of Entreat (which solely relied on the Disintegration material played on their 1989 Prayer Tour). Bestival Live 2011 is a worthy addition to the collection, with the two disc set providing perhaps the most comprehensive 'best of' sequence available of the band to date.

 

Most headlining performances at festivals require hits if they are to truly conquer, so Robert Smith doesn't fight shy of including Lullaby, The Lovecats and the rarely performed Caterpillar. A sure key to the longevity of this band is their ability, evidenced here, to shift from masterful pop songs to discomforting pieces like One Hundred Years with apparent ease. Without Porl Thompson, Smith perhaps shoulders too much of the guitar duty in the current four-piece line-up, but it's a thrill to hear them on this form.